218 paints, stains & treatments

Interior paint

There are so many options for interior paint, it can be hard to know where to begin if the paint is the chosen wall covering. However, there are some basic decisions that need to be made from the outset, each of which will reduce the number of choices going forward. Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of the different types of paints is the first step, followed by matching the right type of paint with the intended use of the room. Colour will also impact the type of paint chosen.

What are the best types of paints for interior walls?

The type of paint chosen for interior walls has a significant impact on the experience of a space. There are a lot of options, including at the basic level, matt, gloss and satin paints. Generally, gloss and semi-gloss paints are used only for trims including door and window frames and skirtings. However, that’s not always the case and each finish has its own set of benefits.

Gloss and satin paints are generally easier to clean than matt finishes, which is why they are used more often in areas such as kitchens where they are more likely to require regular cleaning. Conversely, bedrooms are more often than not painted with matt finishes.

Gloss finishes also have the added drawback of showing up imperfections much more so than matt or satin finishes do, which is one of the reasons these types of finishes are generally not chosen for older homes where interior walls may have various imperfections.

Achieving the best paint finish will depend on the preparation, undercoat and type of wall surface along with the choice of paint.

What type of paint is used for ceilings?

Just as gloss paints show up imperfections on walls, the same is true for ceilings. Most modern ceiling paints are specially formulated low-sheen paints designed to conceal imperfections. It generally pays to choose a ceiling paint for ceilings rather than using standard wall paint.

What is enamel paint suitable for?

Enamel paint most commonly has a glossy or polished finish. In interior applications, the enamel is generally favoured for hard-wearing areas such as door and window frames. Enamel paints are available in both water-based and oil-based options, with oil-based enamels generally seen as the more hard-wearing of the two.  

What are the effects of paints?

Paint is no longer a solution to create a flat colour. Contemporary paints mean you can choose and create just about any effect - from textured concrete to rust. Most paint suppliers now offer a wide range of different effects paint covering everything from copper to stone, stainless steel and suede. Many interior effects paints can also be used in conjunction with a patina or rust formulation that will create a striking naturally aged effect.

Enamel paint

Traditionally, enamel paint was oil-based, however, water-based enamels are now commonplace with most brands offering a range of water-based enamel paint. The release of waterborne enamels in the 1990s opened up a new world of possibilities, with paints that had similar benefits to their oil-based predecessors including non-yellowing qualities, and tough, durable finishes.

Water-based enamel paint is often fast dry also, which means quick dry-to-touch time frames. It also often means a second or third coat can be applied within hours of the base coat, unlike traditional oil-based enamels where subsequent coats generally needed to be applied more than 12 hours after the initial coat.

How can you tell what sort of paint is currently on a surface?

Acrylic and enamel paints respond differently to methylated spirits. To test what type of paint is currently on a wall or surface, put a small number of methylated spirits onto a cloth and dab the area you want to test.

If the paint remains intact, it is enamel. If it becomes moist and dissolves slightly, the paint is acrylic.

Can enamel paint be applied over acrylic?

Acrylic paint can be painted over with acrylic or enamel paint. However, if a surface is painted with enamel, it is not advisable to paint directly over it with acrylic.

What’s the difference between water-based and oil-based enamel paint?

Both types of enamel are durable and long-lasting and suitable for various applications. However, water-based enamels can be cleaned with water, have less odour and can be recoated quickly compared to oil-based enamels. Oil-based enamels retain a higher level of gloss over time and have a smoother finish when dry. However, they also have longer recoat times and can yellow over time.

Is enamel suitable for every application?

Enamel is a hard wearing type of paint that may or may not be suitable for specific areas of the home. As with every painting, preparation is vital to achieving the best finish, and if the surface to be painted is a material such as glass or metal, a suitable primer and paint combination would be required to achieve the best outcome.

How do you remove enamel paint?

Generally, the best way to remove enamel paint is to use a paint stripper designed for enamel paints. Paint stripper is applied in much the same way as paint, with a brush or roller. The stripper will loosen the paint and allow it to be scraped away.

Ceiling paint

Ceiling paint is designed to create smooth surfaces that hide small imperfections. It is a very different product to wall paint, with its own unique set of characteristics and benefits suitable for differing applications.

What is the difference between wall paint and ceiling paint?

The main difference, of course, is the intended use. Ceiling paint is just that: it’s designed for use on ceilings only. Most ceiling paints are designed for maximum coverage with minimum coats. Often, ceiling paint is thicker than wall paint and is almost always a matt finish. It is the finish that allows for the concealment of minor imperfections in the ceiling. The matt finish doesn’t reflect light, which helps with the coverage of uneven surfaces.

Wall paint on the other hand is generally thinner, requiring more coats than ceiling paint. It is also generally washable, comes in a variety of finishes and is designed to be more durable and long-lasting than ceiling paint.

Why use ceiling paint?

Using paint designed for ceilings can help to create a more cohesive feel in a room as it will mask small imperfections. It’s also easier to apply than wall paint due to its thicker makeup, which avoids drips and spills. In comparison, using a thinner paint designed for walls can lead to more imperfections showing up on the ceiling and the requirement for more coats to achieve the desired finish. Ceiling paint is available in all manner of colours from white through to the darkest shades and including textured finishes.

What type of paint is best for bathroom and kitchen ceilings?

Bathrooms are a unique area of the home in that they are prone to moisture and humidity, both of which can have an impact on the durability and integrity of paint over time. For that reason, semi-gloss paints are often the preferred choice for bathrooms, including ceilings. In the bathroom, semi-gloss ceiling paint is often the best option in terms of performance. Most semi-gloss paints are washable and are mould and mildew-resistant.

While kitchens are also prone to be exposed to higher levels of moisture than the rest of the house, they are treated differently to bathrooms in most situations and most painters and decorators will choose a specialised kitchen ceiling paint with a matt finish.

For all other rooms in the house including in the bedroom, basement and garage, standard ceiling paints are often the best choice.

Undercoat paint

Painting a wall or surface can seem simple but there is a lot of preparation that goes into creating the perfect finish, and it starts with the undercoat - or does it? There’s sealer, primer and a host of other painting jargon that can become confusing if the painting isn’t your area of expertise.

What’s the difference between undercoat and primer?

Primer is a type of paint that is specifically designed to cover a new or unpainted surface. Once dry, primer allows for the top coats to have good adhesion to the substrate. It also protects the substrate from moisture or rust if the surface is steel.

An undercoat is applied to the surface before the top coats and over a primer if it was used. An undercoat is often a standard white colour and is used to strengthen the adhesion of the top coats to the substrate in addition to the primer. Or, if it is used without primer, to create a strong surface for the top coats to adhere to.

Is it best to use an undercoat or primer?

A primer is used if the surface being painted is new or has not been painted before. Conversely, an undercoat is used if the surface being painted has been painted in the past.

Why use an undercoat?

The main reason to use an undercoat is to create a smooth, fresh surface on which to paint the top coats. Generally, using an undercoat creates a superior finish and a thicker, denser appearance on the finished surface. Depending on the context, using an undercoat may also help to hide small imperfections on the surface.

Why use a primer paint?

Primers are designed for surfaces that haven’t been painted in the past. Using primer creates a smooth surface on to which the top coats of paint will adhere. Primers should be used on both interior and exterior surfaces. Using a primer is a key part of the preparation of any surface that hasn’t been painted previously. A primer will help to ensure the paint performs as it should, is durable and retains its integrity over time.

Effects paint

There are so many ways to create unique and stunning finishes, both internally and externally, with paint. With technology behind paint always evolving, the effects available continue to grow. Lately, some of the most popular effects paints have been metal effects paints including copper and rust effect paints.

What is copper paint?

Copper effect paint creates the look of metallic copper. Many copper paints have either a more plain metallic finish or a patina effect in which a special coating is applied to create an aged green copper finish. In many cases, copper and copper patina paints can be used for both interior and exterior applications and for a variety of surfaces provided they are suitably prepared. The patina coating is designed to react with the copper finish paint and create a chemical reaction so the finished result varies in the same way that copper ages naturally.

What is rust effect paint?

Much like copper effect paint, rust effect paints are designed to create an authentic, rusted finish. Rust effect paint is particularly popular because it instantly ages any surface and creates a rustic, weathered look.

The rust effect is created by a chemical reaction that occurs when a rust effect paint is applied on top of an iron finish paint. Because it is a chemical reaction, no painted surface will be exactly the same, which adds to the appeal of this style of paint.

Rust effect paint is particularly popular for outdoor items such as plant pots and garden furniture, as well as for exterior walls and internal surfaces in commercial premises.

How is chalk paint used?

Chalk paint is used for many surfaces to create an aged, chalky appearance. It is particularly useful for creating a distressed finish. Chalk paint or chalky paint is different to chalkboard paint, which is used for creating a surface that can be drawn on with chalk. Many chalky paints don’t require a surface to be prepped, aside from simply wiping clean. The finish created is imperfect, which is part of the appeal of chalky paint. Any imperfections created in the painting process or on the surface itself add to the finished, aged appearance of an object or surface painted with chalk paint.